Healthy group of wideouts gives Jets boost

EAST RUTHERFORD ­­— Before Sunday’s game against the Raiders, Geno Smith hadn’t posted a single-game quarterback rating above 23 since the Jets upset win over the New Orleans Saints Nov. 3.

It doesn’t seem coincidental receiver Jeremy Kerley missed those same three contests — costly loses to Buffalo, Baltimore and Miami — with a dislocated left elbow. Kerley had four receptions against Oakland, including a 25-yard touchdown that the TCU product had to leap up in between to defenders to pluck out of the air.

“We were 0-4 without him, so I think it obviously makes a big difference the kind of slot receiver he is,” said coach Rex Ryan of Kerley, including the team’s Week 2 loss to the Patriots. “He can get open. He has great hands. He competes.”

Kerley wasn’t the only weapon the Jets were happy to welcome back. Though Santonio Holmes played last week against Miami, he was severely limited by his injured hamstring and was not targeted in limited snaps. Holmes was significantly more active Sunday, making three catches for 55 yards.

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Add in tight end Kellen Winslow — who missed four games to a suspension and was questionable with sore knees, but who caught four passes for 61 yards — and Sunday was about as healthy a receiving corps as Smith has thrown to this season.

“On top of (Kerley), you get Santonio healthy, a guy that is another proven playmaker, that is a huge help also,” Ryan said. “And then Kellen, we altered his schedule a little bit and I thought Kellen played really well for us.”

It’s not much of a surprise, then, that Smith had one of his better statistical games of the year, finishing 16-of-25 for 219 yards, with a touchdown and an interception, plus 50 rushing yards on five carries.

“It gave him confidence,” Kerley said. “We had a great week of practice leading up to this game. We felt good. Santonio was clicking. Winslow was clicking. We felt good and we just came out and executed what was in front of us.”

Not one to make excuses, however, Smith refused to blame his poor recent play on a lack of options to throw to.

“Well, it’s great to have those guys back and to have them in the rotation, but that’s not the reason for the mistakes that were made in those three games, or any of the games,” Smith said. “It all comes down to my decision-making and accuracy.”

The one receiver that didn’t return Sunday was Stephen Hill, who has been battling knee issues.

“The young man has been competing his tail off, but he’s just not himself,” Ryan said. “He’s not able to burst out of cuts and things, and quite honestly, as much as he wants it’s best for us that we made the decision to deactivate him this week.”

Considering what the Jets have gone through with their top targets this season, however, it’s fair to say they’ll take three out of the four healthy.

After all, it was enough for Smith Sunday.

— Follow Nick Peruffo on Twitter @nickperuffo

About the Author

Trentonian sportswriter and utility man. New York Jets, Princeton basketball, Mercer/Bucks county high schools, Trenton Thunder. Tulane grad. Former Times-Picayune and NFL.com intern. Reach the author at nperuffo@trentonian.com
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